News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.

March 14, 2012

Kings forward-center Chuck Hayes talks about the Kings' effort following their 115-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion.

When the Kings and Warriors played on Jan. 31, Brandon Rush made several late, key three-pointers as part of 15 fourth-quarter points to lead the Warriors to a win.

On Feb. 4, in an overtime loss to the Kings, the Warriors made 16-of-29 three-point shots as a team. Dorell Wright was 4-of-6 from long range in that game and Klay Thompson was 4-of-5.

Thompson sent that game into overtime with a three-pointer on which he was, by virtue of a defensive lapse, left open in the corner.

So perhaps it should not have been surprising when the Warriors began hoisting three-pointers in the third quarter Tuesday night, making 6-of-10 in the quarter to open up a game that was close at halftime, even with Stephen Curry watching from the bench.

The Warriors made 8-of-15 three-point shots in the second half and 12-of-24 in the game as the Kings again struggled with perimeter defense.

"We've got to know guys' (scouting reports), and we've got to run the three-point shooters off the three-point line and make them do something else," said Kings guard Isaiah Thomas.

Were the Warriors' tendencies (seventh-most three-point attempts per game in the NBA as of Monday and third in three-point field goal percentage) not discussed before the game?

"That was the scout," Thomas said. "But they made a lot of shots and guys kind of put their heads down.

"We've got to know guys are going to hit shots. It's the NBA. But we've got to play through adversity."

Tyreke Evans said he felt the Kings were challenging the Warriors' shooters.

"They just hit shots; every shot they put up was going in," Evans said. "We were contesting the shots, but they just made a lot of good shots."

Guard Isaiah Thomas addresses the media following the Kings' loss to the Warriors.

* The final 52.4 seconds of the third quarter were particularly damaging for the Kings. After Thomas' two free throws pulled the Kings within four points, 77-73, the Warriors closed the quarter on a 7-0 run that included two three-pointers by Rush.

On one of them, Rush was given a window in the corner with the Warriors in-bounding and four seconds left on the clock. That left Kings swingman Francisco Garcia looking around as if to ask how Rush had been allowed to even attempt the shot.

"Miscommunication," Thomas said. "One or two guys thought we were in a zone and the other three thought we were in a man, and that's the immature things we do."

* Head coach Keith Smart used all 13 of the Kings' active players, with Hassan Whiteside entering the game for the final 3 minutes, 20 seconds.

Travis Outlaw, who had not played at all in the past two games, played 11:54 off the bench as Jason Thompson sat for all but 2:54 of the final three quarters. Thompson had all of his nine rebounds in the first quarter.